Do You Pay Attention to Drug Interactions?

I'm always surprised when I read the labels on my prescription medications that they can often interact with seemingly innocent over-the-counter drugs. So I'm very careful to read the texts that come with my prescriptions, to make sure that they don't create a harmful combination with something else. Do you pay attention to the interactions spelled out on your drug labels?

I take the combined pill so I always check for interactions with that. I worked in a doctors surgery and now in an old folks home and it's SCARY how many pills some people take! One pill to counter another pills side effects to counter another...

most often i just ensure that nothing will interact with my birth control, cuz a baby is not in the cards right now!once i didnt realize and had antibiotics for strep and had to take the morning after pill

most often i just ensure that nothing will interact with my birth control, cuz a baby is not in the cards right now!
once i didnt realize and had antibiotics for strep and had to take the morning after pill

Usually, the pharmacist lets me know how I should take the medication, when, and what I can or cannot take while on it. So, I kind of rely on that. I once took Bonine while taking another medication, and it gave me the greatest high in the world. I'm not sure if that's a bad reaction, but it was a surprise to my boyfriend, my pharmacist and myself. It was even more amazing because it was during my first visit to Disneyland. GREAT times!

Yup I agree you should read your labels for drug interactions, even for dietary supplements. For example, birth control pills are less effective when combined with certain antibiotics, or if you are taking a blood thinning medication, you should avoid certain herbs. The Women's Heart Foundation says, "Avoid taking supplements of garlic, ginko biloba, ginger, feverfew, dong quai or teas with coumarin while taking the blood thinner Coumadin® as these herbs can further prolong clotting times."

well, this is actually what i do for a living- i read them all day long! i work for a company that publishes the text for interactions and patient education monographs that come along with prescriptions at your local drug stores. it makes me feel good to hear that you all pay close attention to these warnings. we work really hard to help keep ya'll safe!

I'm a nurse so you bet'cha. I'm amazed at how little people know about the herbal meds they take and possible interactions. It's also good to know which vitamins and minerals (mostly minerals) compete with one another or you're just wasting your money.

Once I became a mom, I became a fanatic about reading drug labels. When my daughter was about 5-months old the doctor gave a cream for her rash that included a burning sensation, and severe nausea as possible reactions. I treated her rash with plain yogurt and tea tree powder; the pediatrician got annoyed and said I was to do as he said so of course, we found a new pediatrician.

For sure, I never understood how anyone could not know about the pregnancy thing and anti-biotics. Even if you don't read the small print, I've had them prescribed with it in bold letters across the name tag before. And it's in virtually every magazine article about contraception, we were told it in school, I was told by the doctor and the pharmacist endless times. I just don't get that at all.

For sure, I never understood how anyone could not know about the pregnancy thing and anti-biotics. Even if you don't read the small print, I've had them prescribed with it in bold letters across the name tag before. And it's in virtually every magazine article about contraception, we were told it in school, I was told by the doctor and the pharmacist endless times. I just don't get that at all.

I read the entire texts - not only to avoid mixing it with other medicines that may cause problems for me, but also to know if I should eat before I take it or not, and symptoms to watch for so if something does go wrong, I'm aware of it sooner rather than later (when I'm really really sick or in the hospital!)

Always! With one medication I had to take a few years ago, I was shocked to learn that even the small amount of alcohol in mouthwash (!) could have landed me in the hospital! Never would have thought!!!

I rarely take more than one medications, unless the doctor presccripts me more than one drug, but even then I read the intsruction. Certainly, because my mom's a nurse, and my godfather's a doctor and they pretty much told us to read first, swallow later...